Combined support device for torch and extinguisher

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a combined support, in particular for an extinguisher, comprising a frame ( 11 ), a housing ( 12 ) for said extinguisher, handle ( 13 ) integral with said frame, catching surface ( 14 ) and legs ( 114, 152 ) for resting on a plane surface. The extinguisher housing is formed by several concentric rings ( 121  to  124 ), the top ring ( 121 ) comprising an open sector ( 8 ). In order to constitute a support for a torch nozzle ( 20 ) the device comprises an additional ring ( 17 ) fixed under the top ring ( 121 ), a V-shaped notch provided on said additional ring top edge and an inverted V-shaped notch provided on the top ring ( 121 ) bottom edge opposite the V-shaped notch. Said device improves safety conditions when a torch is being used on a work site.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a combined support device, in particularfor an extinguisher, including a frame, a housing for said extinguisher,prehensile means integral with said frame, catching means and means forresting on a plane surface.

In numerous industrial sectors, such as the tinplate industry, plumbingand heating installations, it is necessary to use a torch for variouswork, such as welding, soldering, oxygen cutting and flame descaling.This work is carried out with a naked flame and can thus involve asignificant risk of fire by inflammation of the combustible materialssituated in immediate proximity to the torch flame. Moreover, since thetorch flame can reach temperatures higher than 3000° C., fires are alsoliable to be caused indirectly, in particular by sparks or drops ofmelted metal or the prolonged action of heat radiation, even outside thearea of formation of the flame.

Added to these risks is that created by the torch itself when it is notbeing used. Indeed, operations performed with a torch require frequentinterruptions during which the flame is not extinguished. If the torchis then placed carelessly on the floor or on any object acting as asupport, it can cause a fire.

This is why it is necessary for the user of the torch to have available,at the place where work is being performed, an extinguisher which he caneasily move and a suitable support to place the torch on safely when heis not using it.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes to provide a solution to this safetyproblem by providing a combined support device as defined in thepreamble and characterised in that it further includes means forsupporting the torch nozzle and means for insulating the flame of saidtorch from the environment in which it is situated.

According to the preferred embodiment of the device, the housing for theextinguisher includes several concentric rings and the frame includestwo vertical struts to which said rings are fixed at regular intervals.

Preferably, the prehensile means of the device include a handle integralwith the vertical struts of the frame and two arms provided with a freebent section at one of the ends thereof. These free sections form thecatching means of the device.

The means for placing the device on a plane surface include three legs,two of said legs being formed by the ends of the vertical struts of theframe, and the third being fixed on the rings of the housing at a pointwhich is equidistant from said vertical struts.

In an advantageous manner, the top ring of the housing includes an opensector and the means for supporting torch nozzle include:

an additional ring fixed to the vertical struts of the frame, under thetop ring,

a V-shaped notch arranged on the top edge of said additional ring,

and an inverted V-shaped notch arranged on the bottom edge of said ringopposite the V-shaped notch,

said means allowing the torch nozzle to be supported and immobilisedwhen the device is in a vertical position.

In another embodiment, the torch nozzle support means include:

an intermediate element fixed to the vertical struts of the framebetween the prehensile means and the housing,

and a groove arranged in said intermediate element for accommodating,guiding and preventing the backward movement of the torch nozzle whenthe device is in a horizontal position.

Preferably, the means for insulating the torch flame include:

a curved metal plate arranged along the housing over the section thereofcomprised between the two vertical struts,

and a layer of insulating material placed in the space defined betweensaid plate and said housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood with reference to thedescription of a preferred embodiment and the annexed drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1 and 1A show a front view of the device according to theinvention in a vertical position, FIG. 1A being a detailed view of aportion of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the same device, and

FIG. 3 shows the device used in a horizontal position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 1A and 2, support device 10, shown in avertical position, includes a frame 11, a housing 12 intended toaccommodate an extinguisher of the type approved by the authorityconcerned, prehensile means in the form of a handle 13 allowing it to betransported easily, catching means 14 allowing it to be attached forexample to a pipe or to laths situated at the place where the work isperformed, and legs 15 to enable it to be placed on the ground or on anyother plane surface. Housing 12 and handle 13 are integral with frame11.

Frame 11 is formed of two symmetrical cylindrical vertical struts 110made in a single piece, for example of steel, and including foursections respectively 111, 112, 113 and 114. Central section 113 isrectilinear and extended upwards by section 112 forming an angle ofapproximately 30° with respect to section 113. Section 112 is itselfextended by end section 111 which also forms an angle of approximately30° with respect to section 112. Section 114 forming the lower end ofsection 113 forms an angle of approximately 30° with section 113 but isalso situated in a vertical plane forming an angle of approximately 30°with the vertical plane containing sections 111, 112 and 113.

Housing 12 intended to accommodate the extinguisher, a cage defined byfour concentric rings 121, 122, 123 and 124 all having the same outerdiameter. Rings 121 to 123 have an identical inner diameter, but ring124 has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the three other rings inorder to form the bottom of the housing. Top ring 121 includes laterallyan open sector 8 over an angle of approximately 90°, as well as asubstantially V-shaped notch 9, on its bottom edge, the function ofwhich will be defined hereinafter.

Each ring of the cage is provided, on the outer perimeter thereof, withtwo cylindrical bevels or chamfers spaced at approximately 90° and eacharranged to co-operate with one of vertical struts 110 in order to allowthe rings to be fixed to the vertical struts at regular intervals and byknown means.

The prehensile means of device 10 are formed of a cylindrical handle 13each end of which includes a plane cut away portion arranged toco-operate with one end of an arm 131 a, 131 b respectively, ofrectangular cross-section, by being screwed thereto. These arms arefurther provided at their other end with a bent free section 132 a, 132b respectively, forming an angle of approximately 30° with the axis ofsaid arms, these free sections forming means 14 for catching the deviceon a lath or a tube situated in proximity to the place where the workmanis welding. The rectilinear sections of these two arms are furtherattached by being screwed to two cylindrical sockets 133 a and 133 b.The length of handle 13 and the inner diameter of the sockets are suchthat the assembly formed by handle 13 attached to the two arms 131 a and131 b and the two sockets fit into sections 111 of vertical struts 110.

Legs 15 of the device are three in number, two of said legs being formedby the two sections 114 of vertical struts 110. The third leg includes arectilinear portion 151 allowing it to be fixed to rings 123 and 124 ofhousing 12 at a point which is equidistant from vertical struts 110.This rectilinear section 151 is extended by a section 152 identical tosections 114 forming the two other legs.

Device 10 further includes an intermediate ring 16 attached to sections113 of vertical struts 110. This element 16 is formed of a plate 161,fixed via screws to sections 113, onto which is screwed a support oftriangular cross-section 162 provided with a dovetailed central groove163. This support 162 is, moreover, provided with a horizontal throughbore 164 intended to accommodate a pin (not shown).

The combined device includes, moreover, an outer ring 17 which is alsoconcentric with the rings of housing 12 but whose inner diameter is suchthat, when it is fixed to vertical struts 110, the latter are trappedbetween the rings defining extinguisher housing 12 and ring 17. Thislatter is fixed to vertical struts 110 directly under ring 121 and actsas support for a curved protective plate 18 covering the peripheralsection of ring 17 defined between the two vertical struts 110. Plate 18extends over the entire length of housing 10. It is made of steel andhas a thickness of approximately 1 mm. A layer of mineral wool 19 isinserted between housing 12 and plate 18 to which it is fixed in aremovable manner by screws which are not shown. Ring 17 is, further,provided on its outer edge with a substantially inverted V-shaped notch9′, opposite notch 9 of ring 121 of housing 12.

The principle of use of the combined device according to the inventionis as follows. When it is used to act as support for an extinguisher,the latter is introduced vertically into housing 12, its release handleengaging in groove 163 of element 16 in order to prevent it fromrotating. When it is being transported, it is held in its housing by athrough pin housed in bore 164. When the workman is at his place of workand he is using a torch, he must have the extinguisher within reach andout of its support. At this moment, the device can then be used as asupport for the torch during interruptions during which said torch isnot extinguished.

If, as shown in FIG. 2, it is an oxy-acetylene torch, nozzle 20 takesthe form of a long bent tube of small diameter and support device 10 isthen used vertically. Nozzle 20 is introduced between ring 17 and ring121 of housing 12 via opening 8 of ring 121. It is then placed in notch9′ of ring 17 and held in a position inclined downwards by thecorresponding notch 9 of ring 121. In this position, the flame isdirected against mineral wool layer 19 and is thus insulated from theenvironment in which the torch is situated.

If, as shown in FIG. 3, it is a propane-butane torch, nozzle 30 takesthe form of a shorter tube having a diameter of the order of severalcentimeters and the support device is then used horizontally. The deviceis laid down and rests on the ground by the two legs 15 formed by theends of vertical struts 110 and catching means 14. Nozzle 30 is thenintroduced horizontally into the device via the top of housing 12 and isplaced in groove 163 of element 16. The flame is thus situated abovemineral wool layer 19 which insulates it from the immediate environment.

This combined device thus allows all the safety regulations requiredduring use of a torch on a work site to be met.

The present invention is not limited to the described embodiment but mayundergo various modifications which are obvious to those skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combined support device comprising: a frame, ahousing for an extinguisher in mechanical communication with the frame,a handle means integral with said frame, a catching means in mechanicalcommunication with said frame, a means for resting on a plane surface inmechanical communication with the frame, a means for supporting a torchnozzle and a means for insulating a flame of said torch from anenvironment in which it is situated.
 2. The device of claim 1, whereinthe housing comprises several concentric rings.
 3. The device of claim2, wherein the frame comprises two vertical struts to which said ringsare fixed at regular intervals.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein thehandle means comprises a handle integral with said vertical struts. 5.The device of claim 4, wherein the handle means comprises two armsprovided, at one of their ends, with a free bent section.
 6. The deviceof claim 5, wherein the free sections of the arms are arranged to formthe catching means of said device.
 7. The device of claim 3, wherein themeans for resting on a plane surface comprises three legs, two of saidlegs being formed by the ends of the vertical struts, the third legbeing fixed to the rings of said housing at a point which is equidistantfrom said vertical struts.
 8. The device of claim 3, wherein a top ringof said several concentric rings of the housing comprises an open sectorand wherein the means for supporting a torch nozzle comprises: anadditional ring fixed to the vertical struts under the top ring, aV-shaped notch arranged on a top edge of said additional ring, and aninverted V-shaped notch arranged on a bottom edge of said top ringopposite the V-shaped notch, wherein said means for supporting a torchnozzle allows the torch nozzle to be supported and immobilised when thedevice is in a vertical position.
 9. The device of claim 3, wherein themeans for supporting the torch nozzle comprises: an intermediate elementfixed to the vertical struts between said prehensile means and saidhousing, and a groove arranged in said intermediate element foraccommodating, guiding and preventing the backward movement of the torchnozzle when the device is in a horizontal position.
 10. The device ofclaim 3, wherein the means for insulating the torch flame comprises: acurved metal plate arranged along said housing over a section thereofcomprised between the two vertical struts, and a layer of insulatingmaterial placed in a space defined between said plate and said housing.11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is an extinguisher.